Cork grip bush



Feb. 19, 1935. F E, R|E 1,991,628

CORK GRIP BUSH Filed DGO. 21, 19433 A" Hingis;

Patented F eb. 19, 1935 UN1TEosTArEs "1,991,628 CORK GRIP BUSH Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich., assignor to American Tap Bush Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 21, 1933, Serial No. 703,360 2 Claims. .(Cl. 217-7113) This invention relates vto a cork grip bush and more particularly to a tap bush forV beer barrels or the like, provided with means for retaining aY cork from accidental dislodgment outwardly of the bush.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide a tap bush with means for retaining a cork against accidental displacement outwardly of the bush. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a tap bush with an undercut part for engagement by a cork to prevent dislodgment of the cork.

AA further object of the invention is to provide a tap bush with cork retaining means to prevent accidental dislodgment of a cork'inwardly or out# wardly of the bush. l i

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates a tap bush having the rod receiving opening provided with means for positive engagement by a portion of the cork so as to secure` 'the cork against accidental displacement with respect to the bush;

The above,l other'and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description,` accompanying drawing, and appended' claims. Y Y The accompanying drawing illustratesV an embodiment of the invention and the views there-` of are as follows:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a tap bush constructV principles of the pres- A bush has a neck l'having the usual overly-V ing iianges 2 and 3 for engagement by lugs on a tap for interlocking the tap to the bush.

The neck 1 provides an opening for the pump rod, which opening is filled with a cork until such timey as it is desired to tap the barrel.

The pump rod opening of the bush of the present invention is formed of different surface contours. The inner portion of the rod 4receiving opening, is, at 4, cylindrical or substantially so, and which is herein designated as the lower portion of the opening. Above the cylindrical portion a substantial length the opening is ared or diverges outwardly as at `5 wherev an inwardly directedk ilange 6 forms an annular inwardly extending shoulder. The flange 6 surrounds the opening '7 in the bush for receiving the pump rod and through which the cork 8 is inserted when it is desired to cork the bush. The flange 6, in`

effect, provides an undercut shoulder .l-against which the outer or top face 10 of the cork abuts, when the lcork is inserted in the bush.

The corkA is inserted through the opening defined by the'flange 6 and forced into the bush opening'until the upper'face 10V of the cork is underneath the shoulder provided by said flange and the divergent portion 5. of the .rod opening. The cork being expansive, will swell filling the divergent opening and such portion of the cork as extends below the inner face of the bush, will expand to interlock with the lower margin of the cylindrical portionl 4 of the rod opening, wherey by the cork is prevented from dislodgment, accidentally, inwardly or outwardly.,

The inner end of the cork designated at 11, eX-

rpandsto prevent dislodgment outwardly, and also `the upper end of thecork expands to engage against the undercut shoulder 9 Ato add to the preventative feature of outward displacement. The expansion of the upper end of the cork in the ilared or divergent portion 5 of the opening, prevents accidental dislodgment of the cork inwardly'of the .bush,' that. is into the interior of the barrel.VY l v vFor convenience, the upper surface or part of the vtap bush is herein referred to as the top sideand the lower portionor part or inner end, referred to herein as the bottom side.

The invention has been described herein more or less preciselyras to details, vyet it is to' be understood that the invention is not toV be limited Y thereby, as changes may be made inthe arrange- Vthrough it, the part of said bush defining said opening being fashioned to provide the opening as cylindrical inwardly from the bottom side of said bush Aand for a portion of the length of the opening and divergent `towards the top side of the bush for substantially the balance ofthe length of the opening, said bush being provided with an inwardly directed iiange forming a shoulder adjacent the top side of said bush.

2. A tap Vbush having a pump rod opening therethrough designed for the l reception of a cork, the'portion of the bush defining the opening adjacentY the top side of the bushv being fashioned to provide an upwardly divergent opening to receive a substantial length of a cork, said bush having an inwardly directed iiangevadjacent its top side, the divergent opening being arranged terminating beneath said flange and having an axial length which is vlong as compared 

